Summary: Living With Power #4

Many of us don¡¦t get excited about going to the mailbox to get the mail. Most of us do one of two things with our mail; we throw it in the trash, or we put it with our checkbook. My kids enjoy going to the mailbox. Although they don¡¦t get a lot of mail they go with the anticipation of finding a letter or magazine with their name on it. Does anyone remember what it was like to be excited to find a letter in the mail addressed to us? Today we¡¦re recipients of such a letter.

The Bible tells us ¡§All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.¡¨ (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV) This morning we are going to look at what should be a familiar passage of scripture to most of us (if you aren¡¦t familiar with it, then after I introduce you to it I want you to get well acquainted with it¡Xwrite it down and memorize it).

This passage of scripture is a PERSONAL WORD. Originally it was a message for Zerubbabel (did anyone just figure out what verse of scripture I¡¦m headed towards?). Because the Word of God is given to all of us and is beneficial for instruction or an well needed rebuke to help us live our lives for God, then this is a verse of scripture we can all personalize. Don¡¦t think of this word of the Lord as an antiquated message for another time and place. This is a personal message for you and me today so put your name into it and listen to what the Lord has to say to each of us today

„X Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, ¡§This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel [Praise Assembly of God]: ’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.¡¨ (NIV)

„X Zechariah 4:6 This is God’s Message to Zerubbabel: ’You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. (MsgB)

1. This is the Word of the Lord. (Advance)

We are bombarded by announcements and messages today. In our electronic age images sounds and words flood our TVs, radios, computers, newspapers, magazines, billboards and more. It is becoming more and more difficult to find someplace where someone isn¡¦t trying to get your attention.

How often do we give our attention to something that is here today and then gone tomorrow. Advertisers spent millions of dollars to communicate their message on Super Bowl Sunday; now only three and a half months later many of those multi-million dollar ads are obsolete. New messages have taken their place.

God¡¦s word has not changed. GOD¡¦S WORD ENDURES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION! His message is timeless; the word of the Lord is not out dated or obsolete. God¡¦s word continues to speak personally to us today!

1 Peter 1:24-25 24For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. (NIV)

God has no need to invent new ways of communicating His message to the hearts of men and women. Whether the word is written or spoken, regardless of if the word is illustrated with pictures or drama, GOD COMMUNICATES HIS WORD IN THE SAME WAY¡XBY HIS SPIRIT.

1 Corinthians 2:11-13 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. (NIV)

God¡¦s Word endures the test of time. His is a message of the Spirit. HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD SPOKEN TO YOU TODAY!

2. Stop trying to do it on your own. (Advance)

The Lord says, ¡§Not by might nor by power¡Xyou can¡¦t force these things.¡¨

Might and power refer to human strength of any kind. No amount of physical, mental or moral strength will accomplish anything of eternal value. Neither the combined strength of many nor the authority of any individual is of any value.

How often do we find ourselves trying to do things for ourselves, or looking to what others can do to help us? In every area of our lives¡Xfrom family and friends, health and medical needs, education and work, to fun and entertainment¡Xyou name it; we try to handle problems on our own.